Selva, Italy

The ultimate guide to Selva ski holidays in 2017 & 2018.

Comfortably nested within the Dolomites, Selva is part of the largest and arguably most beautiful ski area in Europe. The little mountain village will do little to dissuade you from the dreamy Italian promise of sun, snow and leisure, with excellent intermediate skiing, personable restaurants and lots to do throughout the valley.

Comfortably nested within the Dolomites, Selva is part of the largest and arguably most beautiful ski area in Europe. The little mountain village will do little to dissuade you from the dreamy Italian promise of sun, snow and leisure, with excellent intermediate skiing, personable restaurants and lots to do throughout the valley.

Accom'AccommodationSelva Holiday Accommodation

Selva Ski Resort

Selva is the best known and highest of Val Gardena’s close-set group of villages, which also include Ortisei and Santa Cristina. Val Gardena is part of the expansive Dolomiti Superski area and topping the list of reasons to visit the Dolomites, or ‘Pale Mountains’, is its status as a UNESCO world heritage site - Selva has some striking views of the Sassolungo massif and Puez mountains on either side.

Named “Sëlva” by its Ladin speaking locals (the name apparently comes from the Ladin word for wood) or “Selva di Val Gardena” if you’re Italian, the resort existed as “Wolkenstein in Groden” before WW1 when it was Austrian territory. It’s retained lots of Tirolean charisma, dotting a mixture of alpine buildings along the centrally running road and you’ll still hear all three languages spoken around the resort today.

The village itself is lovely and friendly with a touch of old fashioned tradition. It has several sweet churches and chapels and the kind of shopping where you can mooch around and pick up a thing or two in the gift shops to take home. Where ski in, ski out is not an option you are only ever a few minutes from the nearest lift.

Local coach and taxi services run fairly reliably from the main train stations (the nearest are Bressanone and Bolzano). Bolzano airport is also the closest airport with an estimated travel time of 1 hour.

The skiing is where things get serious - the 1970 World Championships really established this as a world class skiing area and a number of international events have been hosted here ever since, including the men’s and women’s super-giant slalom and FIS world cup.

The local ski pass includes the area between Alpe di Siusi and Val Gardena and covers a sufficient 175km of piste with 83 lifts. However, if you can resist the Dolomiti Superski Pass, you deserve a medal. A 460 part lift system links Val Gardena with 11 other valleys providing access to a good 1220km of piste. This also includes routes up to the 11000 ft Marmolada glacier, the well-known Sella Ronda trail and the Saslong World Cup Downhill for a bit of a challenge.

Skiing/BoardingSkiing in Selva

The nursery slopes are close to town and there’s a nice collection of blues towards one side of Piz Seteur and at Plan de Gralba (it’s worth mastering the bus timetable when going onto Plan de Gralba as taking the mountain route can land a beginner on some rather tricky reds). There are a number of ski school options available as well as a Fun Park for the younger-hearted.

Just by looking at the piste map you can see the intermediate-friendly nature of the skiing here. For those re-discovering their ski legs, the Alpe di Siusi (just above Ortisei) has some gentle skiing with steeper descents from Dantercepies and Ciampinoi to progress onto.

If the Sella Ronda is on your to do list (and it should be if you’re intermediate or above), the general preference is the orange clockwise route as it follows the sun (the lifts are good too). This world famous circuit is definitely worth doing but don’t let it distract you from some fantastic alternative routes... The Gherdeina Skiring is good for variety and the Armentarola at Lagazuoi (locally known as the Hidden Valley) is hugely recommended just for the views - the horse drawn tow back to the main piste is a bit of a highlight too! The lengthy La Longia red run starting in the Seceda section and running to the valley also gets extra points for altitude.

For access to the more serious skiing, it’s worth upgrading to the Dolomiti Superski pass. From Ciamponi there are some good red and blacks including the World Cup Saslong Downhill. The black and red runs at Porta Vescovo are a more complicated option off the Sella Ronda.

The lack of moguls and off-piste is made-up for by the opportunity of a heli-drop on the Marmolada glacier. It’s also worth chatting to the tourist office who often do ski tours structured with a range of historical, gourmet or scenic criteria.

Alpe di Siusi’s King Laurin Snowpark is the biggest in the area, with plenty of rails and kickers that are nicely spread out. The Alta Badia Snowpark on the Piz Sorega is bit further out and the Piz Sella Park is the closest to village, just beside the Comic chairlift.

Selva is quite big on its cross-country with 115km of trails. The 12km trail up the Vallunga Valley is particularly popular, Covara is good for beginners and the 7.5 km track connecting Alpe di Siusi with Val Gardena is also worth mentioning.

Selva Apres Ski

Italian resorts don’t tend to be overly wild when it comes to après ski but with 20 bars, 45 restaurants and 2 main clubs Selva does rather well... If you’ve never had the iconic Bombardino beverage, this is a good place to sample one!

Bar Saltos is a good foodie spot with a sometimes themed menu and music scene for later on. La Stua, near the Costabella ski lift, is great for après ski with a sunny terrace and live music. By the Dantercepies, Panorama does some hearty dishes, perfect before the final run back to Selva.

Hotel Piz Seteur, at the foot of the Sassolungo, is notorious for its GoGo girls, taking the word fun quite literally. For a calmer cocktail and appertif, Yello’s Music Lounge Bar in the centre of Selva is open to a good hour. Dali-Disco Dance and the Heustadl (in the Hotel Wolkenstein) make up the late night dancing scene, with quite a youthful crowd.

We also like Café Mozart for a more family friendly atmosphere (it’s worth popping in purely for the hot chocolate!).

There are some superb dining-out options with Hotel Friena, Chalet Gerard and Hotel Sun Valley topping the list, all easy to get to from the town centre. La Bula does fantastic pizza and pasta and Nives, just off the main square, is the place to go for the traditional South Tyrolean factor with a cosy, homely atmosphere.

The 6km toboggan run is definitely worth doing as is a visit to the Pranives ice rink in the sports centre. There are skating and curling activities here as well and it’s worth looking out for acclaimed figure skater performances, disco evenings and lessons. You can book dog sleigh excursions with Siberian Huskies across the Puez-Odle Nature Park and for a real appreciation of this World Heritage Site, hire a winter walking guide. For those who can’t wait until morning, night skiing is usually possible on Alpe di Siusi. Over at Orisei (a bus ride away) little ones can use the swimming pool while grownups head to the glazed Turkish baths in the same building.

Best time to go

Best time to ski Selva

When is the best time to ski Selva?

Most slopes are around the 1500m – 2000 mark which is promising for conditions during the colder months. Even after a period of low snowfall, people can be quick to praise the state of the slopes, thanks to the wide snow cannon coverage. There are many options to go higher and the Marmolada glacier at 3342m is a superb example. The 12km ‘La Bullenese’ run down from here is a real treat as it has some pretty special views.

For those troops who like to be up nice and early, Italian resorts take a more leisurely approach to hitting the slopes and meals times are a lengthy affair, so the slopes should be pretty crowd free throughout most of the season. What’s more, half term does not have the same crowd connotations as some other countries as the Italians don’t have a half term holiday.

If the best time means the best bargain then it is definitely worth checking with the ticket office about the special promotions before forking out on a lift pass or ski hire.

Peak Dates

Christmas in Selva is usually full of authenticity, with snow-topped wooden huts, a Christmas carol or two and plenty of festive merriment provided by the local businesses and hotels.
Browse Selva Christmas ski holidays ‣

If the slopes don’t manage to tire the kids out over February Half Term in Selva, the range of other activities like ice-skating and tobogganing might do the trick. The one thing the Italians do well is a good old rustic sun terrace for that all important après ski.
Browse Selva Half Term ski holidays ‣

An early start, some beautiful weather and a leisurely bombadino to finish the last run of the day and you’re well on the way to a day of perfection over Easter in Selva. Find the higher runs for the crisper snow or head to the glacier.
Browse Selva Easter ski holidays ‣

Selva Ratings & Customer Feedback

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Average Rating 4.2 out of 5

I wouldn’t go anywhere else! It’s such a huge area and you can do so much from there, it ticks all my boxes. With the Dolomites it’s a really pretty area and by far the best place I’ve ever skied.
We’ve done the Sella Ronda many times in both directions but probably won’t any more, I think it’s ticked ...
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Mrs Matthews, Stratford Upon Avon

5 out of 5

I had skied in the Sella Ronda area before but not stayed in Selva itself. You’re right on the Sella Ronda here so it’s a really good place to stay – this time we skied the route the other way round and really enjoyed it (it’s quite challenging but it depends on the conditions when you’re out there). The S...
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Susan White, Ipswich

4 out of 5

We’d been to Selva years ago (it was the place we first skied as a couple) and always said we wanted to come back, so we bought the children! The resort has changed a lot but it’s still a lovely place, very well set up for children with a great ski school, good nursery slopes and good lifts. It was a shame we...
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The Dean Family, Exeter

5 out of 5

I love the Dolomites and always ski there, but probably wouldn’t go back to Selva.
All the restaurants and bars on the mountains are really good.
A tip to someone who hasn’t been in the area before is not to get fixated on the Sella Ronda like some people do, make sure you explore off it too!
Selva is s...
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Rachel de la Rue, Market Harborough

4 out of 5

I liked Selva very much; being in Italy, everything is that bit cheaper than France, Switzerland or the USA but you still have a really nice alpine atmosphere. I’m not an expert and found some runs a bit tricky, especially at the end of the day when everyone was coming off the main circuit, but if you were a h...
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Miss Richard, Sutton

4 out of 5

Selva is one of several resorts in Val Gardena, sitting at 1565m, that link up to the surrounding Sella Ronda Region. With both Austrian and Italian heritage, the resort offers a unique fusion of two cultures that influences both the food and the accommodation. Hotels in the resort range from 4-2.5* making them...
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Francesca Leech, Thetford

4 out of 5

Selva, known also as Wolkenstein is a beautiful alpine village, situated in the heart of the Dolomite Mountains. It has fantastic skiing, and access to the Superski area which they rightly say "welcomes skiers/boarders of any ability level" because its very big and the terrain is nicely varied. With a variety o...
+ more

Richard, Sno Staff

4 out of 5

Despite being in a village environment, Selva offers a wide and varied après-ski scene. With 20 bars, including traditional Bierkellers and live music venues, 45 restaurants and 1 nightclub, everyone is sure to find something to their taste. For those keener on post-ski relaxation, there are also hot-tub and s...
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Sophie, Bedford

4 out of 5

Selva itelf(a): Despite the fame and popularity accompanying the World Cup races in Val Gardena, Selva ski resort retains its good value for money and relaxed peaceful atmosphere. In addition to the offer of children under 7 years old going free of charge , the resort boasts fantastic nursery slopes, well-kept ...
+ more

Families in Selva

Selva has quite a few ticks down the family checklist.

Let’s face it, learning to ski or snowboard is more about falling over (we’ve all been there!). To help pick you up there are three options in the Selva area; Snowboard and Ski School 2000, the Ski and Snowboard School and Top Ski School, each with a good selection of instructors (some who are ex-world cup athletes). Specialized courses in freestyle and jumps are also available if you fancy challenging a relative to see who can do the best 360o. The nursery slopes are at the North Eastern end of town so Hotel Anteres, Hotel Tyrol, Hotel Linder and Hotel Continental are good options for dropping off the skiing newbies. Most of our chalets are also family friendly, sometimes with options for children to eat a bit earlier. They offer a more intimate, homely stay and are rarely not too far from the ski school meeting place.

The 0 - 4 year olds, who haven’t quite grown into their ski boots, can still get a snow-orientated holiday at Mini Club Selva, with games in the garden, a walk and a nap to suit the needs of each child. There’s also the Casa Bimbo nursery and child-minding service to make sure children from 4 - 5 months to 7 - 8 years are well looked after.

The fun doesn’t have to stop with the close of the lifts, with the 6km toboggan run, sleigh-ride excursions and winter walks. You can also test your ice skating, curling and ice-disco dancing skills at the central Pranives Sports Centre and taking the bus over to Ortisei will lead the way to a swim or Turkish bath. Wandering through Selva town might also give you some ideas about where to go for that South Tyrolean food factor. Book in at La Bula for a hearty pizza or pasta dish or to the Nives Restaurant for a special treat. A perfect way to end the week!

GroupsGroup Holidays Selva

Part of going on holiday is getting home and bragging about it to friends and family; but why not just save time and bring them along? For those not too bothered about sole occupancy, Chalet Soldanella is good for numbers as it sleeps 26 or the smaller Chalet Salvan, sleeping 14, might be more up your street. Chalets offer a more homely environment and so are great for quality time.

Booking individual rooms within a hotel means you get access to the facilities they offer and there’s always the possibility that stragglers can join the holiday at a later date. The well-being and swimming pool facilities are always worth taking advantage of, especially when you have varying ages. It’s also worth picking somewhere near the centre like Hotel Piccolo or Hotel Tyrol (great for nightlife if you don’t want too far to stumble back at the end of the night).

The 175 km of piste to enjoy with the Val Gardena & Alpe di Siusi Pass is the intermediates dream. Parties with differing abilities will find plenty of variety, especially with the Dolomiti Superski Pass. You could be dropping the beginners off at the nursery slopes in one hour and skiing down the Saslong World Cup Downhill in another.

Come late afternoon you’ll always find a group who have thrown their skis in for the day and are enjoying a glass of something in the sunshine. The après ski scene is great for this kind of atmosphere with 20 bars and 45 restaurants. Piz Seteur at the foot of the Sassolungo is never short of people whilst Yello’s Music Lounge Bar in Selva centre sets you up nicely to toast the day’s activities on a more relaxed level. If you’re travelling with the dance-hearted then two night clubs, the Heustadl and Dali-Disco Dance in the centre of Selva might catch your eye.

Knowing that the village likes to get involved in the festivities is useful when planning a Christmas or New Year trip. Prior years have had a Christmas market and held a range of gala evenings in the local restaurants and bars. New Year likewise has celebrated with a DJ and fireworks in the main Nives Square.

Getting your entire team out shouldn’t be too much of a task either as flights and transfers are usually provided in most packages and where you would prefer to travel independently (by air, land or water), you can always opt for accommodation only.

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"By far the best place I've ever skiied!"

Mrs Matthews, Stratford Upon Avon

5/ out of 5

I wouldn’t go anywhere else! It’s such a huge area and you can do so much from there, it ticks all my boxes. With the Dolomites it’s a really pretty area and by far the best place I’ve ever skied.
We’ve done the Sella Ronda many times in both directions but probably won’t any more, I think it’s ticked off my list now. If you can do red runs you’re fine, although there’s a lot of trumping across the roads and queuing, especially on sunny days as it’s so popular.
Lagazuoi or the ‘Hidden Valley’ is very worth a do and it’s supposed to be one of the most beautiful ski routes. It’s a 2 dollar ride up the road and is on the edge of the Cortina area, we usually ski down to the area where you pick up the bus from.
The absolute icing on the cake is that when you get to the bottom you’re pulled along by horses on tow ropes!

"Brilliant base for Sella Ronda"

Susan White, Ipswich

4/ out of 5

I had skied in the Sella Ronda area before but not stayed in Selva itself. You’re right on the Sella Ronda here so it’s a really good place to stay – this time we skied the route the other way round and really enjoyed it (it’s quite challenging but it depends on the conditions when you’re out there). The Selva ski area caters for all abilities so you’d enjoy it whatever your level, it looked like they had nursery slopes round the back and a ski school if you were trying it for the first time. We found some really nice places to go on the mountain for drinks and snacks (the food in Italy is always good!) and the scenery is of course fantastic.

"Return trip to Selva"

The Dean Family, Exeter

5/ out of 5

We’d been to Selva years ago (it was the place we first skied as a couple) and always said we wanted to come back, so we bought the children! The resort has changed a lot but it’s still a lovely place, very well set up for children with a great ski school, good nursery slopes and good lifts. It was a shame we didn’t get round to doing a sleigh ride or sledding which I really wanted to do, but we couldn’t find where to do them. The weather was a bit mixed, really hot on a couple of days and then cold and windy on another. Selva has great access for the Sella Ronda and other resorts, we went over to Ortisei and it was really nice over there.

"not my favourite resort, but not bad"

Rachel de la Rue, Market Harborough

4/ out of 5

I love the Dolomites and always ski there, but probably wouldn’t go back to Selva.
All the restaurants and bars on the mountains are really good.
A tip to someone who hasn’t been in the area before is not to get fixated on the Sella Ronda like some people do, make sure you explore off it too!
Selva is so big and always very busy, which is fine, but I just prefer the quieter villages (possibly Arabba and Canazei as I like to ski towards Corvara).

"Excellent value for money"

Miss Richard, Sutton

4/ out of 5

I liked Selva very much; being in Italy, everything is that bit cheaper than France, Switzerland or the USA but you still have a really nice alpine atmosphere. I’m not an expert and found some runs a bit tricky, especially at the end of the day when everyone was coming off the main circuit, but if you were a high intermediate or advanced you’d be fine. For beginners, there are plenty of really nice looking nursery slopes and on the whole, everything in the area is well groomed. I had a private lesson which was well worth the money (and the lessons in Italy are really cheap). I really liked the nightlife and bars in town, which were good but not too wild and the cafes and restaurants were really nice too.

"Best part of Val Gardena"

Francesca Leech, Thetford

4/ out of 5

Selva is one of several resorts in Val Gardena, sitting at 1565m, that link up to the surrounding Sella Ronda Region. With both Austrian and Italian heritage, the resort offers a unique fusion of two cultures that influences both the food and the accommodation. Hotels in the resort range from 4-2.5* making them an excellent option for groups with all budgets. Alternatively, if you prefer the freedom of a chalet, Selva offers both catered and un-catered accommodation, both in the town centre, and closer to the slopes. Selva has received excellent reviews across the board for its fine dining experience. Any taste is catered for, whether it’s an Italian Pizzeria you’re after, a good quality fish restaurant or warming Austrian mountain food, the resort has it all. Like all good ski-resorts, Selva has other activities on offer, for those who may want a time-out from the mountains. Facilities include; bowling, ice-skating and woodland walks. With plenty of shopping, there is something for everyone in Selva.

"Austro-Italian fusion of fun and relaxed friendliness"

Richard, Sno Staff

4/ out of 5

Selva, known also as Wolkenstein is a beautiful alpine village, situated in the heart of the Dolomite Mountains. It has fantastic skiing, and access to the Superski area which they rightly say "welcomes skiers/boarders of any ability level" because its very big and the terrain is nicely varied. With a variety of accommodation to suit all tastes, a fusion of Italian and Austrian fine dining, buzzing après-ski and fun activities for families, Selva is the perfect choice for a group skiing holiday and its super friendly locals and make it really popular with families with children, many of whom return year after year.

"Good apres ski, great linked resorts snowboarding"

Sophie, Bedford

4/ out of 5

Despite being in a village environment, Selva offers a wide and varied après-ski scene. With 20 bars, including traditional Bierkellers and live music venues, 45 restaurants and 1 nightclub, everyone is sure to find something to their taste. For those keener on post-ski relaxation, there are also hot-tub and sauna facilities available. Selva’s Best Bits: - Snow quality/availability - Excellent connections to over 175km of runs - Suitable for all abilities and boarding - Wealth of bars and restaurants. Other Vital Statistics: - Small beer: €3 - House Wine: €7 - Small coke: €2.50 - Tea/Coffee: €1.50 - Sandwich: €2.60 - Medium Pizza: €7 - 6 Supermarkets - Internet Café - 2 Banks

"Incredibly friendly and chilled out place"

Gideon Beckwith, Watford

4/ out of 5

Selva itelf(a): Despite the fame and popularity accompanying the World Cup races in Val Gardena, Selva ski resort retains its good value for money and relaxed peaceful atmosphere. In addition to the offer of children under 7 years old going free of charge , the resort boasts fantastic nursery slopes, well-kept and conveniently located, which makes Selva an ideal destination for family holidays. However, whilst this description may paint a pretty picture of Selva, care must still be taken when choosing a resort. In January and February, look to benefit from a bit of sun by picking resorts with south facing slopes., whilst in the warmer months of March and April, aim to face north for more shaded and firmer snow trails. However choosing a resort which will give you the best of Selva isn’t a problem, with a large range of hotels and accommodation to choose from. Another commendable feature of Selva is its efficient ski lift system, with a total of these lifts providing transport to the 59 runs found here. On the slopes: Skiing in Selva caters for all levels of skiing proficiency, but is perhaps most suited to intermediates, with 23 expansive runs available. comfortable blue runs found in and around the Plan de Grabla area provide the opportunity to build confidence, whilst the more capable intermediate will be at home skiing from Dantercëpies and Ciampinoi back to Selva on their red and black descents. A highlight among options for experts skiers is the Saslong, or to give it a more familiar name, the Val Gardena World Cup piste. This is a relatively steep piste maintained to a racing standard, but open most of the time to us non-professionals too. Boarders are also catered to here – particular beginners – with facilities including a terrain park, nursery slopes and plenty of gentle runs, with a respectable amount of drag lifts to help the snowboarders get around. Social scene: Selva has a vibrant yet relaxed après ski atmosphere, with a wide range of bars and restaurants to choose from. If you’re looking for an energetic night after a day on the slopes then Bar la Stua is the place to be, where live local music and dancing are the order of the day (well, night), with the odd costume party thrown in for good measure. For a taste of the Italian and Austrian blend found in Selva, make your way to La Bula Restaurant, a reasonably priced way to sample the local cuisine in a lively atmosphere, where despite the often crowded restaurant, service is still to a very high standard. The local Tyrolean cuisine includes Speckknödel (dumplings with pieces of bacon), as well as simple favourites: pizza and beer. Selva also offers plenty of activities to keep the non-skiers entertained, with ice-skating, indoor tennis & squash, and ice hockey matches all on offer. Hop over to the neighbouring village, Ortisei, to find an indoor hot spring pool for a bit of rest and relaxation.